In the wake of the Jan. 28 "design slam", the team working on the plans for the renovations of Van Ness Elementary is circulating a document with some of the results of that effort, which includes first renderings of what the school's exterior could look like, showing the plans to add one story onto the building's south wing, which you can compare to the current view to orient yourself (click to enlarge):

The first phase of renovations will apparently focus on the first two floors of the building's main wing along 5th Street, where the Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classrooms will be when the school reopens this fall. There would also be a reworked a reworked entrance to level the door with the first floor, and temporary parking and play areas in the courtyard on the building's northeast side.

Draft interior schematics show that south wing could eventually include the gym/auditorium and the cafeteria on its first floor. and a media center, computer lab, music/art rooms on the second, with green roofs and facing bringing the south end's exterior height up to match the 5th Street wing.

Bruce says: (2/9/15 6:11 PM)I am very excited about the plans for the school.It's also nice that the architects are listening to ideas from our School Improvement (SIT) Team and incorporating the ideas into final designs.

Yards parcel L-2. Construction of foundation and underground parking garage for new 11 story multi-family mixed used residential building at 227 Tingey Street SE as part of development of Parcel L at the Yards